Machine for straightening structural members



A. J.- BATES ET AL MACHINE'FOR STRAIGHTENING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Aug. 2a, 1923;.

Filed ed. 24. 1917 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 211,"1923. 11,465,4'08

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS A. J. BATES ET AL Filed Oct. 24. 1917' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 java A. J. BATES ET AL MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS F iled Oct. 24. 1917 '4' Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 21, 1923. lfi fi flfi A. J. BATES ET AL MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed Oct. 24. 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented sag. 2i, ieas.

fi i di iil FATENT ALBERT J. BATES Ann w nrnn A. BATES, or cHrcAso, rnmnors, ASSIGNORS 'ro BATES EXPANDED STEEL TRUSS 00., or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORA- TION or DELAWARE.

Application filed October, 24, 1917. Serial No. 198,204.

To-aZZwhom it may concern: I

Be it known that we Anrsnnr J. Burns and WALTER A. BA'rns, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful improvements in' Machines for Straightening Structural Members, ofwhich the following is a specification. I p f his invention relates to a machine for straightening structural members and hasfor its particular object tie provision of means capable of selectively applying forces to a member, under the control of the operator, to rapidly straighten the member.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for straightening structuralmembers which is readily adaptable for'use with members of varying dimensions andwit-h which theworlr may be handled with a minimum of manual labor.

Further objectsand advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawing illustrating the pre ferred embodiment thereof in whicl Fig. l is aside elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of a portion of the machine on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4: is a transverse section through the machine;

Fig. 5 is a plan vi'ew of a portion of the .machine, and V r Fig. 6 is a'view inperspective illustrating the mode of operation of themachine.

The invention isjdesigned, primarily, for use in connection with the expanding machine disclosed in Letters Patent No. 15260 857, dated March 26, 1918, for theinanufac ture of structural. metal members in accordance with the method describedin Letters Patent No. 1,0(i5,925, dated Octoberll, 1911. During. the expanding operation the members sometimes become Warped or otherwise bentand the machine hereinafter de scribed has been found particularlyuseful in straighteningsuch members. 1

Referring to the drawing 5 indicates a base to which legs 6 forming a framegare securely bolted, A table-is supported onthe legs 6, consisting. of portions 7 and 8 connected by an intermediate portion 9. T he from and supporting the members.

portion 7 of the table is adapted to receive the structural members as they are delivered the expanding machine and to straighten one flange of the members while the p-ortlon 8 is adapted to receive the members in reverse position to straighten the other flange thereof.

In orderto conveniently handle tne memhere we provide two tracks 10 and 11 above the table and suitable traveling cranes 12 and 13 thereon having means for engaging Posts 14c, spaced from the table, support swinging brackets 15 upon which the structural mem bers rest after they pass the portion 7 of the table and until they are picked up by crane 13 for movement in reverse direction in the machine.

Each of the portions 7 and 8 of the table are provided withtwo pairs of fixed abutments 16 and 17 Between the pairs of abutments each portion ofthe table is grooved as indicated at 18 (Fig. 6) to receive sliding blocks 19 carrying clamps 2:) which hold jaws 21 firmly in position. "The jaws 21 may be of different sizes and are interchangeable for use with structural members of varyingrlimensions; Preferably the jaws 21 are recessed as indicated at 22 to prevent lateral movement thereof when held by clamps 20.

The-sliding blocks 19 are each connected to the ends of levers 22.. The opposite ends of the levers 22 are connected by links 23.

Apitman 2 connects one of the levers to an eccentric 25 on a shaft 26. A-motor 27 is supported on the base 5 and is provided with a pinion 28 meshing with-a gear 29 on ashaft 80 which is in turn provided with apinion 81 meshing with a gear 32secured to the shaft 26 and consequently the eccen-.

tric 25 is driven at a slow speed from the motor 27. a

The levers 22' are pivotally mounted on ends of screws 33 loosely disposed in suitable openings in a housing 35 beneath the portion 9 ofthe table. lVithin the housing 85 pulleys 36 are mounted-on each of the screws 33.

The pulleys 36 bear at either side thereoi against the housing,v consequently, when the pulleys are rotated thescrews .33 are moved longitudinally to shift the pivots of the levers 22 and thereby shift the zone of travel of the jaws 21 which are constantly reciprocatedi through their connection with the mo tor 27.. To conveniently rotate the pulleys 36 we provide each with a flexible. endless cable 37 extending through suitable guides on. the posts 14. Thus the pulleys. are constantl'y under the control of the operator from a distance and the zone of travel of the jaws may be varied at will by grasping either side of the endless cable and exerting sufficient force thereon. The jaws travel the same distance at all times but the position of the travel of the jaws is variable and controlled by operation of the pulleys and cables so that the degree. of pressure exerted by the jaws upon the structural member' may be varied as the condition of the work requires.

To facilitate movement of Fstructural members on the table we provide each" of .to apply force to the member at the portions 7 and 8 with rollers 38 arranged at either end of the table. The rollers 38 are preferably mounted on ball or roller bearings so that they are'tu-rne'd easily even when a considerable weight is disposed thereon.

The operation of the mechanism; will be readily understood. from the following brief description thereof. The structuralmember is removed from the expanding machine and delivered to rollers 38' on portion 7 of the table. The structural member will be redue to reciprocation of the jaws. The op orator grasps the end ofthe-structural memher; his hand being of course suitably protected, moves'the member slowly in the direetion' indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 and at the same time manipulates the cable 37 I'H'IHOUS points along-its length as required l'Vhen the operation is completed the member may be disposed on brackets 15 where it is rolled one half turn. It is thenpicked up by crane 13 and delivered to rollers 38 on portion 8 of the table where: the previous operation is repeated while the member moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in" Fig. 2.

Both sides of the member are thus straight V fened' and it is ready for delivery.

.Inthe operation of? our machine only two 'men are requ ired one to handle the struts tur'al member on each side of the machine.

The straightening operation may be completed in approximately two-'minutes ant without the necessity of reheating the member after it leaves the expanding machine. It can be readily understood therefore that we have perfected a machine whichis capable of performing the desired. operation in p a rapid and satisfactory manner and at a minimum of labor and expense; Our ma" chine is moreover simple in construction and is capable: of. continuous operation for longperiods without adjustment or-necessary repair.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,- construction and arrangement of the parts without depart ng from the'spirit and scope of the nvention or sacrificing any of'itsmaterial advantages,

the to an hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

. lVe claim: I i V y 1. In a metal bending machine, a plurality of abutments defining a work-receiving guideway, work engaging jaws disposed at opposite sides of the gnideway andworking transversely thereof, means: "for maintaining the jaws spaced in a' predetermined relation,

means for reciprocating'thejaws-as a unit through a constant zone of travel; and

means for adjustably shifting the- Zone of reciprocation of the jaws while the nrachine is in operation, whereby the shifting of the zone of reciprocation may be effecte out stopping the-machine. I

2. In a metal bending machine; a plural-1 ity of abutments'defining' a work-receiving guideway, Work engaging jawsdisposed at opposite sides oft-he guideway and 1l1-8'Ii-I1- tained in" predetermined spaced relation, means for reciprocating-the jaws as a unit through a constant zone of. travel transversely of the gui-dewazy, andmeans for adjustably shifting theizoneof reciprocation of the jaws while the machineisin operation, whereby the shifting of the zone of reciprocation may be efieote'd' without 's topping thc 1n achine.

3. In a metalIbe-nding machine, a plurality of abutment-s defininga work-receiving guideway, worlcengagnrg 1. aws disposed. at opposite sides of the: guideway, means conwitlinect'ing the jaws as a unit and maintaining them spaced 1n a predeterm ned relation,

and'means. for reciprocatingfth jaw connecting means'and the jaws asxa unit th-rougli a constant zone of travel transversely ofthe guideway and including adjustingvmechanism for shii -tingth'e zone of reciprocation of the jaws whil'eith'e machine-is'inoperation whereby thei shifting "of the zone of #5 reciprocation may he effectedwithout stop"- ping the machineQ- 4:; In a macl'i-ine for st aighteningstrnctural' members, thefmmbinatiom of a sup port for a member fixed abutments'on said support to engage opposite sides of the mem her, a block mounted to slide in a horizontal 2 plane on the support beneath the member,

jaws carried by the black to engage opposite SlCiGS Oi' said member, a smgle/ineans for constantly reciprocating the block in a fixed length. of travel; and means controlling the operation of said reciprocating means to shift the zone of travel of the jaws to cause one or the other jaw to operate on the structural member in cooperation with the opposite abutments. V I

5. In amachine for straightening structural members, the combination of a support for a member, fixed abutments on said support to engage opposite sides of the member, a pair of jaws mounted to slide in a horizontal plane on the support to engage opposite sides of said member, means for constantly reciprocating said jaws in a fixed length of travel and including a lever, and means for shifting the fulcrum of said lever to vary the position of travel of the jaws and cause one or the other jaw to operate on the structural member in cooperation with the opposite abutments.

6. In a machine for straightening structural members, the combination of a support for a member, fixed abutments on said support to engage opposite sides of the member,

a pair of awe slidably mounted on the sup port to engage opposite sides of said memher, means for constantly reciprocating said jaws in a fixed length of travel and including a lever, and means for shifting the fulcrum of said lever including a screw engaging the lever, a pulley for operating the screw, and a cable for operating the pulley to vary the position of travel of the jaws and cause one or the other jaw to operate on the structural member in cooperation with the opposite abutments.

7. In a machine for straightening structural members, the combination of a support for a member, fixed abutments on said support to engage opposite sides of the member, a block s-lidably mounted on the support beneath the member, a pair of jaws on the block to engage opposite sides of the member. means for constantly reciprocating said block in a fixed length of travel and including a lever connected atone end to the block and at its other end to operating means, and means for varying the position of travel of the block to cause one or the other jaw to operate on the structural member in cooperati on with the opposite abutments including a screw connected to said lever between its ends, a pulley for operating the screw, and a cable for operating the pulley.

8. In a metal bending machine, a plural ity of abutments defining a work-receiving guideway, work engaging jaws disposed at opposite sides of the guideway, means connecting the jaws in a unit and maintaining them spaced in a predetermined relation, a

driving member, a driving connection between the driving member and the work engaging aws for reciprocating the latter through a constant zone of travel, and means for ad usting the drive connection to shift the-zone'ot reciprocation of the jaws.

9. In a metal bending machine a plurality of abutments defining a work-receiving guideway, work engaging jaws disposed at opposite sides of the guideway, means connecting the jaws in a unit and maintaining them spaced in a predetermined relation, a driving member, a driving connection between the driving member and the work engaging jaws for reciprocating the latter, said driving connection including a lever, and means for shifting the fulcrum of the lever to shift the zone of reciprocation of the aws. j

10. In a machine for straightening structural members, the combination of a pair of oppositely disposed supports'to seccessively receive a member, fixed abutments on each support to engage opposite sides of the member, a block mounted to slide in a horizontal plane on each support, a pair of jaws on each block to engage opposite sides of the member, a single means for constantly reciprocating said blocks and including a pair of levers engaged with said blocks, and independent means located between the supports and connected with the respective levers for shifting the fulcrum of said levers to vary the position of travel of the blocks to cause one or the other jaw thereon to operate on the structural member.

11. In a machine for straightening structural members, the combination of a support for a member, fixed abutments on said support to engage opposite sides of the member, a pair of jaws mounted to slide in a horizonal plane on the support to engage opposite sides of said member, means for constantly reciprocating said jaws in a fixed length of travel, and means for varying the position of travel of the jaws to cause one or the other jaw to operate on the structural member in cooperation with the opposite abutments and including a pulley, and a cable for operating the pulley and extending from the machine in a position accessible to the opera-tor traveling with the member as it travels through the machine.

12. In a metal bending machine, a plurality of abutments defining a work receiving guideway, work engaging j aws disposed at opposite sides of the guideway and working transversely thereof, means for maintaining the jaws spaced in a predetermined relation, means for reciprocating the jaws as a unit through a constant zone of travel, and means for adjustably shifting the zone of travel of the jaws while the last named means is in operation.

13. In a metal bending machine, a pluraltween the driving member and the WOI'k enity of abutments defining a Work receiving through a ;c pnstant,zgne oftrayel; and means guideway, Work engaging jaws disposed at 01 adjustingihe drive connegtion tq shift 10' opposite sidesofthe guideway, means conthe zone, of reciproegtionofthe. jaws while nesting the jawsin a unit and maintaining thedriying membgr ig in qperatigng I them spaced. in a. predetermined relation, a ALBERI J. BATEfi driving member, a driving connection be- WALTERBATES; v Witness:

gaging jaws for reciprocating the latter Knmm, 

